Left to right: Anla Cheng, SERICA Initiative Chair, Founder and CEO; Gisela P. Kusakawa, AASF Executive Director; Professor Yasheng Huang, Trailblazer Honoree and AASF Founding President; Professor Kai Li, Trailblazer Honoree and AASF Founding Vice President; and Zhang Xin, Founder of SOHO China

Last night, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) proudly celebrated a meaningful moment for our community as Founding President Yasheng Huang and Founding Vice President Kai Li were honored at The Power of Us: AAPI Trailblazers Gala 2026, hosted by The Serica Initiative in New York City.

This recognition reflects not only their individual achievements but also the vision that brought AASF to life. In April 2021, Professors Huang and Li joined other Asian American founders, scholars, and researchers to establish AASF during a period of heightened challenges for the community. At a time when anti-Asian hate was rising, and scholars and researchers faced increased scrutiny, AASF was founded to ensure their contributions were recognized and their voices were represented in national conversations shaping the future of the research community and our country.

Upon receiving the award last night, Professor Yasheng Huang shared:

“I am deeply honored to receive this award and especially honored to share this award with Professor Kai Li, with whom we have collaborated in our work advancing academic freedom and defending the interests of Asian American scholars,” said Professor Yasheng Huang, AASF Founding President and Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management and Professor, Global Economics and Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “The credits go to Kai, Gisela, and hundreds of other incredible people in our community who have contributed ideas, resources and energy to our cause. In the face of challenges, we cannot afford to stand apart from each other, and we must stand together and support each other at this moment of great adversity and uncertainty.”

In his acceptance speech, Professor Kai Li reflected:

“I am deeply grateful to receive the AAPI Trailblazers Award. This honor truly belongs to AASF and to all those who came before us, helped us, opened doors for us, and are now opening doors for future generations,” said Professor Kai Li, AASF Founding Vice President and Paul M. Wythes and Marcia R. Wythes Professor in Computer Science at Princeton University. “I will always remember the day the China Initiative ended when a colleague sent me a short message: ‘Together, we can move mountains.’ Tonight, I am reminded again that when we stand together, we can.”

“It was truly an honor to celebrate Professor Yasheng Huang and Professor Kai Li, whose visionary leadership and foresight led to the creation of AASF,” said Asian American Scholar Forum Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa. “It has been a true pleasure to work alongside both of them, and I continue to be inspired by their kindness and commitment to public service. Through AASF, their leadership is transforming the nonprofit ecosystem and ensuring that we create long-lasting infrastructure to advance and protect scholars, researchers, and scientists for generations to come. We are also grateful to Anla Cheng, Chair, Founder and CEO of SERICA Initiative, and Andrea Louie, Executive Director of SERICA Initiative, for their outstanding work in creating this meaningful recognition and look forward to partnering together for the greater good.”

The AAPI Trailblazers Gala is The Serica Initiative’s premier annual event, bringing together leaders across business, academia, technology, media, philanthropy, and public service. This year’s theme, The Power of Us, highlighted the importance of shared leadership and collective progress in advancing opportunity and innovation.

They were honored alongside an accomplished group of leaders, including:

• Steve Chen, Co-Founder and Former CTO of YouTube
• Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group
• Dr. Alexis Chiang Colvin, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai
• Ida Liu, CEO of HSBC Private Bank

The evening also recognized Rising Stars, celebrating emerging leaders whose work is shaping the future across industries.

AASF joins in celebrating all of this year’s honorees, whose trailblazing work continues to benefit and shape America’s future.